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Light NHTSA footprint — 19 owner complaints and 5 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2009 Nissan Xterra has 19 NHTSA owner complaints and 5 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 6 complaints, typically surfacing around 116,888 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Xterra | 780 | 5 |
| 2007 Xterra | 557 | 2 |
| 2008 Xterra | 119 | 8 |
| 2009 Xterra (this page) | 19 | 5 |
| 2010 Xterra | 38 | 6 |
| 2011 Xterra | 24 | 2 |
| 2012 Xterra | 16 | 2 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
Run the VIN from the listing — 5 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is powertrain (~$2,500) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
We purchased a new 2009 Nissan xterra on june 5, 2009. While driving the vehicle, the following dashboard warning lights come on for no known reason: brake, ABS, slip, tire sensor & vdc. Odometer fails to operate, mileage needle returns to the start position and does not show…
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 Nissan xterra. While driving 35 MPH, the contact attempted to engage the horn but had to apply extreme force for it to sound. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the failure was due to the air bag in the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Nissan xterra. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated and the brake lights failed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the stop lamp needed to be replaced. In addition, the ac…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Nissan xterra. While driving at any speed, the vehicle made an abnormal loud noise without warning. The failure recurred continuously. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear differential disengaged and damaged the…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
An improperly deployed airbag could result in serious injury.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Nissan Xterra is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
The 2009 Nissan Xterra is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average; 5 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 6 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 116,888 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 19 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 116,888 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 6 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 116,888 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 116,888 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 19 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.